17 of the best beaches in Italy

One thing Italians love to do when the sun is out is head to the sea and argue over which is the best beach in Italy. Spirited debates flourish among families about the most beautiful stretch of sand and no wonder – when you live in a country gifted with a gorgeous coastline measuring nearly 8000km long, there's always another favorite to celebrate.

During July and August, locals flock to the shore to find their special corner and make it a second home. There are some things to bear in mind before you join them. Many beaches in Italy are dominated by stabilimento, beach clubs that charge a daily fee for entrance to their stretch of the sea and provide you with lounge chairs, bathrooms and other facilities. Prices start from around €25 per day for an umbrella and sun beds for two people and go all the way up to €200 for the most exclusive set ups. The more popular the beach and the closer to the August holidays you are, the more likely places are to be booked solid. If you’re looking for a deserted paradise to while away the hours, visit in September.

But even if you’re among the legions, you’ll be spoilt for choice. While there's no way to cover everyone's favorite, I've done my best to round up the top beaches in Italy.

1. La Pelosa, Sardinia

Best beach for stunning views

There’s no point in denying it. La Pelosa on the northwestern tip of Sardinia is quite simply the most beautiful beach in the world. Photos really don’t do it justice, plus the surrounding Asinara archipelago and the loveable town of Stintino are worth sticking around for a couple of days to explore.

Planning tip: La Pelosa has instituted a cap on people who can spend the day on the beach in the high season in order to preserve the delicate ecosystem. Reserve your place on the website if you plan to spend the day there. You’ll also have to bring along a mat to avoid tracking sand away on your towel. Local organizations have made a real effort to better manage tourism here, and supporting them is important.

2. Favignana, Sicily

Best island 

Standing proudly off the western Trapanese coast of Sicily, Favignana is the main island in the Egadi archipelago and was so named to denote the warm winds that drifted onto the coast. The island boasts about 33km of coastline, which means you’ll have scores of different beaches to explore, from craggy Cala Rossa to expansive Lido Burrone. And yes, technically it’s cheating to treat a whole island as if it's one beach, but are you really mad about having so many incredible options to choose from? I didn’t think so.

3. Cala Goloritzè, Sardinia

Best hidden cove

Is it a beach? You be the judge. Is it a hidden cove only reachable by boat or an arduous climb? Yes. Is it worth the effort? Absolutely. This UNESCO-protected cove tucked into the still untamed Gulf of Orosei is bursting with aquatic life, perfectly framed by the natural arch that juts into the blue abyss and the towering rock formation created by a landslide. It is the type of beach that changes a person.

Planning tip: A typical boat tour of the Orosei Gulf, departing Orosei or Cala Gonone in the morning, includes a stop at Cala Goloritzè. 

4. Fontane Bianche, Sicily

Best beach for swimming

Choosing even a handful of the best beaches among those in Sicily is a challenging task, but here's one I love. The tiny town of Fontane Bianche (population: 900) is about 12km from noble Syracuse and presides over a 3km stretch of beach with fresh water springs that flow from the seabed, making it among the most pristine swims you’ll ever take. That, coupled with the white cliffs that frame the tiny gulf, make it a must.

Detour: History lovers won't want to miss the other top attraction near Syracuse (or Siracusa): Parco Archeologico della Neapolis is one of Sicily's greatest archaeological sites.

5. San Fruttuoso, Liguria

Best beach for suba divers

Liguria has taken the battle for the ultimate beach to a sacred level with its stretch of sand located at the foot of a 1000-year-old abbey. This wildly popular place, accessible only on foot or by boat, is more than just a good spot to work on your tan though – diving enthusiasts and fans of underwater worship can visit the Cristo degli Abissi, a bronze statue that was placed at the bottom of the bay in 1954.

Planning tip: There is a basic cafe and a couple of restaurants near the beach. At the end of every summer, the town commemorates the Cristo degli Abissi with a festival. 

Meet your new travel partner

Get unlimited data while you travel with Holafly eSIM. Peace of mind and no hidden fees wherever you go.

LEARN MORE

6. San Vito lo Capo, Sicily

Best beach for families

Jutting out from the northwestern coast, San Vito lo Capo is one of Italy's beaches where land and sea live in such perfect contrast that it becomes harmonious. The town is anchored by the 15th-century Santuario, an imposing Arab-Norman structure. The sea, protected by Monte Monaco from above, is so crystalline and calm –  with an expansive and shallow lagoon ideal for young swimmers – that you may just forget where you are and what brought you here. No matter, keep floating.

7. Sperlonga, Lazio

Best beach near Rome

Turns out that not only were the Ancient Romans very good at building aqueducts and inventing concrete, they also knew a good spot for a beach club. The ruins of the Villa of Tiberius sit on the shore and include a spectacular grotto, which must have been the VIP room back in the day. These days, however, all the action is along the sandy coastline, which you’ll find to the north and south of the ruins, and just a 2-hour drive from Rome.

Local tip: The Museo Archeologico Nazionale was built at Sperlonga in the 1950s to house all the sculptures that were discovered at this archaeological site when a road was built near here.

8. Castiglione di Ravello, Campania

Best for beach-side spritzes

When you think of beaches, do you also think of dizzying heights and staircases that feel like cardio challenges, or is that just me? Descending from dreamy Ravello on the Amalfi Coast may seem like you’re challenging gravity itself, and getting back up from the beach at Castiglione may cause you to rethink your exercise regimen, but it is worth the trouble. The azure water, dramatic cliffs, and excellent spritzes at the beach club are reminders that good things come to those who climb.

9. Cala Violina, Tuscany

Best half-moon bay

The name comes from a local legend that swears you can hear a magical sound from the sand as you walk on it. While you might have a hard time hearing it with the summer crowds, try anyway at this half-moon bay in the middle of the Bandite di Scarlino Nature Reserve.

Planning tip: To protect the melody, the tourist office of Scarlino has also instituted a cap on visitors during the high season, which runs from June 1 to September 30. Reserve on the website before you go.

10. La Feniglia, Tuscany

Best place to camp by the beach 

Have you ever walked through a forest that seemed destined to take you into the deepest regions of the strangest places, only to find yourself in paradise? Stretching for 7km down the southern Tuscan coast, La Feniglia is at the end of a journey through one of the natural pine forests of the Maremma nature reserve. It’s a protected area with white sand, clear waters and surreal beauty.

Planning tip: Camping Feniglia is right by the beach, with bungalows and plenty of space to pitch tents.

11. Palinuro, Campania

Best for less-visited beaches along a wild coastline

Although Amalfi dominates the discourse, going a little further south along the Campania coastline brings you to the Cilento, a lesser-traveled but equally evocative stretch of cliffs and beaches that will have you gatekeeping in no time. It's easy to understand why – whether it's the rugged Ficocella beach or the sandy Saline, there’s a beach for everyone in Palinuro. Maybe we can let just a few people in on the secret.

12. Spiaggia Nera, Maratea, Basilicata

Best black-sand beach

If otherworldly beauty is your jam, how about a little hike through Mediterranean scrub onto a black volcanic sand beach? Basilicata is even further down the southwestern Italian coast, far from many of the madding crowds (unless it’s August – you’ve been warned).

Soak up the sun on ebony rocks that keep the water warm for just a little longer, and be sure to check out the caves that hold legends about cheating lovers (Grotta della Sciabella) or rogue turtles (Grotta della Tartaruga).

13. Scalea, Calabria

Best-kept secret (to those outside Italy)

Don’t wait for your coolest friend to come back from their Italian holiday and tell you that Calabria is a secret they've discovered. Beat them to the punch! Scalea is bigger, bluer and more beautiful than you think: the wide expanse of crystal clear sea will inspire child-like joy in even the most jaded traveler. Plus, you’ll eat some of the tastiest (and spiciest) food during your holiday.

Planning tip: It's best to visit this one in May, June or September, steering clear of August's busy Ferragosto holiday entirely. Scalea is easily reachable with Flixbus or fast Italo trains.

14. Spiaggia di Pescoluse, Puglia

Best beach for clear water

This stretch of beach is very nearly at the end of Puglia, just before getting kicked off of the boot at Santa Maria di Leuca. It’s often called the Maldives of Salento because the water is so clear and limpid that it evokes the paradisical islands. But for those in the know, it’s the other way around – the Maldives are known as the Pescoluse of the Indian Ocean.

15. Torre del Orso, Puglia

Best beautiful beach

It is an objective fact that Puglia is possessed by a specific, incontrovertible magic – anyone who goes there loses all notion of space and time once they touch the sea. Evidence suggests that it's likely to occur at Torre del Orso, a beach so lovely that you'll surrender to its beauty immediately.

If ever you do lose your way, look for le Due Sorelle, a rock formation that sits in the bay, beckoning. But who are we kidding, you’re not lost at all, and you’ve got nowhere else you'd rather be.

16. Le Ginestre, Friuli

Best all-rounder near Trieste

I have pledged my unabashed love to the Friuli Venezia Giulia region on many occasions and will continue to do so for the foreseeable future. Take a trip to the northeastern corner of Italy and find your way to this sacred curve of coastline that always seems to have just the right balance between sun and shade, laughter and silence. Give the Adriatic a chance to work its magic, and I am willing to bet that you’ll be pledging your love too.

17. Riviera del Conero, Le Marche

Best beach for wild mussels 

Have you ever been somewhere and wondered how you managed to gain such favor with the universe as to end up there? Get thee to any of the beaches in the Riviera del Conero, easily reachable by bus from Ancona, and you’ll very likely experience the same sensation.

From the wild beauty of Mezzavalle to the dulcet tones of Numana Alta, every bit of this protected area feels like you’ve done something very good in life, at least once. Stop for a meal of local moscioli (wild mussels) and it might even be twice.

Planning tip: Many of the beaches are rocky so bring something thick to sit on and wear sturdy sandals. Part of the initiative to manage visitor numbers at the beaches on Riveriera del Conero, particularly in Portonovo, is that you need to pay for beach loungers, and an umbrella costs extra.